Washington Allocates Over $5.7 Million for Street, Capital Improvements

Washington’s new fiscal year budget allocates $3.4 million for transportation and $2.3 million for other major capital improvements and maintenance projects in the coming year.

City council members Monday night approved an ordinance officially adopting the new $34.8 million budget. There was no discussion before the vote was taken.

The 2013-14 spending plan goes into effect Oct. 1. A public hearing on the document was held earlier this month but there were no public comments.

Street Projects

Revenue collected from a half-cent transportation sales tax will be allocated for ongoing maintenance and upgrading of existing streets and more major projects.

The transportation sales tax budget includes $375,000 to continue sealing various streets with the Nova Chip product that replaced the old chip and seal treatment and $300,000 for asphalt resurfacing of other streets, plus $50,000 for sidewalk and curb and gutter improvements.

A major resurfacing project in 2014 will involve upgrading the entire lengths of Stafford and 14th streets. Those streets will be resurfaced and sidewalks added in some locations under a federal grant approved several years ago.

The $1.3 million project will be financed with a $1,068,000 federal grant plus a local match of $267,000 from the transportation sales tax fund.

Stafford will be upgraded from 14th north to Front Street, while 14th will be improved from Stafford east to Highway 47.

Camp Street

This year’s budget also includes a $950,000 to build a new Camp Street bridge over Busch Creek and the extension of Camp Street on the south side of the creek. Right of way for the project is being acquired this year and design and construction is slated for 2014.

Repairs to the East Fifth Street bridge over Busch Creek are also scheduled to be made in the coming year. The budget includes $250,000 for the repairs.

The transportation budget has $130,000 earmarked for designing a new Jefferson Street bridge over Busch Creek and $10,000 to design a new Lafayette Street pedestrian railroad crossing.

The $1.37 million bridge replacement project is scheduled to be done in 2016. The lion’s share of the cost — $1,096,000 — will be covered by a federal grant. The city will pay the balance of $274,000.

Total cost of the new pedestrian railroad crossing is projected at $300,000 with a federal grant paying $240,000 and the city, $60,000. That project is scheduled to be done in 2015.

Capital Improvements

Revenue from the city’s half-cent capital improvements sales tax fund is allocated in the new budget for the following projects:

• $200,000 for improvements to city hall including tuckpointing and new carpeting in the city council chambers;

• $120,000, fiber optic connections for various city buildings;

• $665,000 for the all-abilities playground;

• $82,880, McLaughlin Field lighting;

• $251,600 for airport improvements and layout plan (includes grant funds of $234,000 and a city match of $17,160);